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Inhibition of Klebsiella pneumoniae growth by selected Australian plants: natural approaches for the prevention and management of ankylosing spondylitis

Inflammopharmacology volume 25, pages 223–235 (2017)Cite this article

Abstract

A wide variety of herbal remedies are used in traditional Australian medicine to treat inflammatory disorders, including autoimmune inflammatory diseases. One hundred and six extracts from 40 native Australian plant species traditionally used for the treatment of inflammation and/or to inhibit bacterial growth were investigated for their ability to inhibit the growth of a microbial trigger for ankylosing spondylitis (K. pneumoniae). Eighty-six of the extracts (81.1%) inhibited the growth of K. pneumoniae. The D. leichardtii, Eucalyptus spp., K. flavescens, Leptospermum spp., M. quinquenervia, Petalostigma spp., P. angustifolium, S. spinescens, S. australe, S. forte and Tasmannia spp. extracts were effective K. pneumoniae growth inhibitors, with MIC values generally <1000 µg/mL. The T. lanceolata peppercorn extracts were the most potent growth inhibitors, with MIC values as low as 16 µg/mL. These extracts were examined by non-biased GC–MS headspace analysis and comparison with a compound database. A notable feature was the high relative abundance of the sesquiterpenoids polygodial, guaiol and caryophyllene oxide, and the monoterpenoids linalool, cineole and α-terpineol in the T. lanceolata peppercorn methanolic and aqueous extracts. The extracts with the most potent K. pneumoniae inhibitory activity (including the T. lanceolata peppercorn extracts) were nontoxic in the Artemia nauplii bioassay. The lack of toxicity and the growth inhibitory activity of these extracts against K. pneumoniae indicate their potential for both preventing the onset of ankylosing spondylitis and minimising its symptoms once the disease is established.

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Acknowledgements

The authors are grateful to Philip Cameron of Mount Coo-tha Botanical Gardens, Brisbane, and to the members of the Queensland Bushfoods Association, Australia, for identifying and providing the plant material used in this study. Financial support for this work was provided by the Environmental Futures Research Institute and the School of Natural Sciences, Griffith University, Australia.

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Authors and Affiliations

  1. Environmental Futures Research Institute, Nathan Campus, Griffith University, 170 Kessels Rd, Nathan, QLD, 4111, Australia

    V. Winnett, J. Sirdaarta & I. E. Cock

  2. School of Natural Sciences, Nathan Campus, Griffith University, 170 Kessels Rd, Nathan, QLD, 4111, Australia

    V. Winnett, J. Sirdaarta, A. White, F. M. Clarke & I. E. Cock

  3. Eskitis Institute, Griffith University, Nathan Campus, Nathan, QLD, 4111, Australia

    F. M. Clarke

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  1. V. Winnett
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  5. I. E. Cock
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Correspondence to I. E. Cock.

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Winnett, V., Sirdaarta, J., White, A. et al. Inhibition of Klebsiella pneumoniae growth by selected Australian plants: natural approaches for the prevention and management of ankylosing spondylitis. Inflammopharmacol 25, 223–235 (2017). https://doi.org/10.1007/s10787-017-0328-1

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